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Fires in Springfield building damaged by gas explosion determined to be intentionally set

chestnut street fire

A Springfield police officer stands at the perimeter as firefighters investigate the source of smoke at 155 Chestnut Street. Firefighters found four small fires inside that had been set intentionally.
(The Republican | Patrick Johnson)

SPRINGFIELD — A Chestnut Street building that has been vacant since the 2012 gas explosion was the scene of a small fire Wednesday night, and fire investigators have determined it was intentionally set, a fire official said.

Dennis Leger, aide to Springfield Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said firefighters were called to 155 Chestnut St. at about 8:15 p.m. for reports of smoke.

The building housed Square One daycare and a number of businesses, but it has been vacant since the Nov. 23, 2012, gas explosion that destroyed and damaged several buildings in the area. The scene of the explosion, the former Scores Gentlemen's Club, was located next door on Worthington Street.

Leger said firefighters discovered four separate fires on the first floor of the building and each fire was quickly extinguished. All of them appeared to have been set intentionally, he said.

Chestnut Street was blocked off for more than 30 minutes as firefighters checked out the building.

No one was supposed to have been inside the building. It remains boarded up and all the upper floor windows are still missing since they were blown out more than a year ago. Leger said firefighters found evidence that some homeless people might be staying there.

Anyone passing by the area who may have seen anything suspicious or who knows how the fire started is asked to call the city Arson and Bomb Squad at (413) 787-6370.

Photo gallery of the Square One building on the one-year anniversary of the gas explosion